Quick attachable and detachable loader



Feb. 21, 1961 v. E. CADWELL 2,972,424

QUICK ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLE LOADER Filed Feb. 5, 1957 ,fl-rwanror 2914 E. @aciwdl QUICK ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLE LOADER Y I V hydraulic loaders for use on tractors and more particularly to a loader structure that permits easy and quick installation or removal. It is an improvement of the device disclosed in my United States Letters Patent Number 2,738,083, of March 13, 1956.

The use of hydraulic loaders on tractors is now universal. However, in most usages, such as on farms, the tractor is used for many other purposes besides loader usage. Therefore, the loader must be frequently mounted onto the tractor and as frequently removed therefrom to free the tractor for other uses. This installation on or removal from the tractor is indeed quite a task and usually requires two or more workmen. Also the loader must be blocked up, jacked up, or power lifted into installation position on the tractor. While my above referred to patent eliminated many of these problems, the device did require the manual connecting of the main beams to the tractor axle portion.

Therefore, one of theprincipal objects of my invention is to provide a loader that not only requires no auxiliary installing equipment, power means, blocks or like, but is capable of having its main beams automatically attachable to the tractor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a loader for use on tractors that may be installed or removed easily and quickly and by only one workman.

Still further objects of this invention are to provide an easily installed or detachable loader for tractors that is. economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in therconstruction, arrangements, and combination, of the various partsjofithe device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the ings, in which:

Fig. l is a side sectional view of my loader in collapsed down condition for receiving'the tractor to which it is to be attached and with broken lines illustrating its position at time of hook up,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged of the receiving brackets and construction,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom View of one of the brackets and with one of the main beams partially extending into it, and

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of one of the beam connecting brackets with dotted lines illustrating the position of the beam after it has been automatically secured thereto.

In the drawings '1 have used the numeral to generally designate an ordinary tractor having the usual rear axle housing 11, and chassis frame 12. These tractor axle housings vary as to design. Some have two spaced apart downwardly extending flanges 13 and 14 This invention relates to bottom perspective view of one more fully illustrates its Z,9?2,4Z4 Patented Feb. 21, 196i on their bottom. In general, the tractor and major por tion of my loader are fully disclosed in my issued Patent No. 2,738,083, wherein I install two-clamp brackets on the underside of the chassis and below the tractor motor. However, any suitable quick operating clamp may be used for connecting the two spaced apart loader frame posts 22, and which are substantiallyvertical at the time the loader is installed. These two posts are secured together bya brace (not shown). The numeral 25 designates two rearwardly extending beams secured to the lower ends .of the two posts 22, respectively. Each of accompanying drawthese'two main beams has its toprear rend sheared off to rest in a horizontal plane when the beams are extending forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig; 1. On the rear end of each of the beams is a downwardly extending vertical hook flange 26. With the beam extending downwardly and forwardly and the flange vertical, an acute angle is produced between the beam and flange, as shown in Fig. 4. A strengthening brace 29 extends between the parts 22 and 25. The numeral 31 designates the two shovel lifting beams hinged at their rear ends to the upper ends of the two posts 22, respectively. These two lifting beams are attached in the usual way to the usual shovel or scoop element 32. A- cross brace extends between the two members 31, ust to the rear of the shovel 32. The numeral 34 designates strengthening braces on the beams 31. I

The numeral 37 designates a brace extending normally downwardly and forwardly from the top of the post- 22, to the front chassis of the tractor where it is detachably secured by a bolt, cap, screw or like.

Hinged and extending from the lower end of each of the posts 22, to the respective scoop lifting beam above it, is an ordinary hydraulic jack having the usual cylinder portion 39 and piston 40. The hydraulic jacks are also hinged to the lifting beams and extend from the bottom of the postsforwardly and upwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. Each hydraulic jack is adapted to be controllably operatively connected to the hydraulic pump (not shown) of the tractor by the flexible conduits 42. Normally these hydraulic jacks are used to lower and raise the scoop or shovel .32. However, by my constmction I use them as the power means'for attaching my loader to the tractor or removing it from the tractor. For each of the main beams 25 I provide an axle attaching bracket. Only'one will be described inasmuch as they are duplicates. The

bracket is generally designated by the numeral 43 and v is in the form of a box having a rear endwall 44, two sides 45 and 46, and a top 47. The two side walls 45 and 46 flare laterally outwardly and away from each other, as shown in Fig. 2. The bracket is open at its bottom and front end. The numeral 48 designates a horizontal bar spaced forward of the rear end 44 and extending between the two walls 45 and 46. This bar is closer to the bottom of the bracket than to the top of the bracket, as shown in Fig. 4. The numerals 49 and 50 designate two attaching ear flanges on the top 47. These two flanges are adapted to overlap the two axle housing flanges 13 and 14 and be permanently secured thereto by a bolt or like means 51. Thus, I have on the tractor two spaced apart brackets 43 for the rear ends of the two beams 25. These brackets 43 may be secured to the tractor axle housing by any other suitable means than that shown.

I will now describe my loader attachment and detachment procedure. With the various brackets already on the tractor, and the loader resting on the ground with its shovel 32 on the ground, the lower ends of the posts 22 on the ground, and with the hydraulic jacks expanded, as shown in Fig. 1, the tractor is merely driven into the loader between its two posts 22. When the loader is in this condition the posts 22 will be extending upwardly and forwardly, the beams 25 will be extending upwardly and rearwardly and at least the major length of the two scoop lifting beams will extend tially horizontally, as shown in Fig. 1. All the attaching procedure up to this timevwas merely driving the tractor into the loader as it rests'on the ground in normal condition. The forward flared ends of the brackets 43 make it easy to drive the tractor into the loader so that the rear ends of the beams 25 will enter the brackets, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The hydraulic jack conduits are then connected. If the .beams 25 are either too high or too low, it is merely necessary to actuate these hydraulic rams to place these main beams 25 to proper heights. The tractor is driven forward into the loader and the rear ends of .the beams 25 will pass over the bars 48 of the brackets and contact the inner side of the rear end 44 of the brackets. Next, the hydraulic jacks are caused to contract, which would ordinarily lower the scoop. However, the scoop is already on the ground, so something else has to move, i.e., the posts 22 are elevated thereby bringing the cross tube into the clamps and the braces 37 into position for bolting onto the forward chassis of the tractor by the bolts 55. Next the clamp jaws are closed, tightened and locked and the loader is completely installed. However, another action also takes place. The beams 25 in moving upwardly to a horizontal position engage the inside top of the brackets 43, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 4. This action moves the hook flange 26 of each of the beams to extend forwardly and downwardly back of the bar 48. Thus the rear endsof the beams 25 are automatically operatively secured to the axle housing of the tractor and will remain so as long as the beams are horizontal inasmuch as the top of the beams will be engaging the underside of the top 47 and holding the flange 26 against raising above the plane of the bar 48.

To detach the loader the procedure is reversed. It will be noted, that no blocks, auxiliary power or auxiliary jacks or lifting cables are used. The loaders own hydraulic jacks do all the lifting and requires only one person to attach or detach my loader at will, The entire operation is simple, easy and rapid.

Once the loader has been installed, it operates just like any other loader.

In detaching the loader it is left in a position on the ground like shown in Figs 1, and the tractor merely backed out of it. In such position, it is in ready condition to receive the tractor when it is again desired to use the loader. The broken lines of Fig. 1 show the loader after it has been secured to the tractor and is ready to be used as such.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my quick attachable and detachable forwardly and substan loader without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination, a loader having at least one beam *having a hook flange on its rear end extending laterally beyond the longitudinal plane of the beam; saidlbeam adapted to assume either a horizontal position or a downwardly and forwardly extending position; a tractor, at least one receiving bracket housing secured to the rear axle housing of said tractor, comprising abox member having an enclosed top, back end, two side walls extending forwardly and having their forward end portions flared away from each other, open at its forward end and bottom and having a horizontal bar extending between the two side walls, whereby when said loader beam has its rear end in said bracket and is moved from a forwardly and downwardly extending position to a horizontal position, its book flange will extend downwardly and back of said bar, and when said beam is extending downwardly and forwardly said hook flange will be in substantially a vertical plane above said bar.

2. In combination, a loader having at least one beam having a hook flange on its rear end extending laterally beyond the longitudinal plane of the beam; said beam adapted to assume either a horizontal position or a downwardly and forwardly extending position; a tractor, at least one receiving bracket housing secured to the rear axle housing of said tractor, comprising a box member having an enclosed top, back end, two side walls extending forwardly, open at its forward end and bottom and having a horizontal bar extending between the 'two side walls, whereby when said loader beam has its rear end in said bracket and is moved from a forwardly and downwardly extending position to a horizontal position, its hook flange will extend downwardly and back of said bar, and when said beam is extending downwardly and forwardly said hook flange will be in substantially a vertical plane above said bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,507 Hoagland Feb. 19, 1895 730,186 Case June 2, 1903 883,997 Willoughby Apr. 7, 1908 2,063,051 Ray Dec. 8, 1936 2,379,752 Schultz July 3, 1945 2,411,629 Lane Nov. 26, 1946 2,723,039 Stueland Nov. 8, 1955 2,738,083 Cadwell Mar. 13, 1956 

